Cap-feeding apparatus



De. 8,1942. W; D. BELL AP FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed April 8, 19394 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR William D. Ball.

BY M,

A RNEYS Dec. 8, 1942. v w. o. BELL 2,304,437

CAP FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed April 8, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Wlllmm D. Bell.

BY v M4 r% ORNEYS Dec. 8, 1942. w. n. BELL CAP FEEDING APPARATUSOriginal Filed April 8, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY I M fM ATT NEYS Dec. 8,1942. V w. D. BELL 2,304,437

CAP FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed April 8, 1939 4 shets sheet 4 v AORNEYS Patented Dec. 8, 1942 CAP-FEEDING APPARATUS William D. Bell,Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster,Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application April 8, 1939,Serial No. 266,914. Divided and this application February 24, 1941,Serial No. 380,162

Claims.

My invention relates to cap-feeding apparatus. It has to do, moreparticularly, with apparatus for feeding caps from a source of supplyinto position to be engaged by the upper ends of containers which aremoved along by a conveyer.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide cap-feeding apparatusof the type indicated which is very simple but very effective.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which willautomatically release caps from the reservoir and feed them onto the topof the containers without any manual intervention by the operator.

Another object of my invention is to provide cap-feeding apparatus ofthe type indicated which will feed the cap into position to be engagedby the container, but there will be no danger of the cap leaving thedevice until it is engaged by the upper end ofthe container, and asecond cap will not be fed into such position unless the first cap isengaged by a container.

Another object of my invention is to, provide a cap-feeding device ofthe type indicated in the preceding paragraph which will beautomatically operated merely by moving a container into associationtherewith. p

Another object of my invention is to provide a cap feeding and applyingunit of such a nature that the cap can be withdrawn therefrom by acontainer on a moving conveyer without danger of upsetting thecontainer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cap-feeding device of thetype indicated which is of such a nature that the cap will be evenlypositioned on the top of the receptacle.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, S. N.286,914 filed April 8, 1939.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings where. in similar characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating a machine having a capfeeding and applying unit associated therewith which is constructed inaccordance with my invention. 1

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along line22 of Figure 5.

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2 showing a cap which hasbeen positioned on a container by my unit and also showing a capdropping to a position where it can be engaged by the succeedingcontainer. 1 i

Figure 4 is an end view of the cap delivery mechanism.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section,showing the mechanism for separating the lowermost cap and delivering itto position where it is to be withdrawn by the container.

Figure 7 is a view partly in perspective and partly in section of thelower portion of the structure shown in Figure 6.

With reference to the drawings, I have illus trated a machine of thetype disclosed in my. copending application, Serial No. 266,914. Thismachine comprises generally a table I which supports a horizontalconveyer unit 2 on its upper end, a cap-feeding and applying unit 3, anda sealing head unit 4.

The conveyer unit 2 is described in detail in said I I have shown acontainer which has at its upper,

end a reduced portion 23, adapted to receive a cap 24, as clearly shownin Figure 2. This cap preferably embodies a substantially disk-likeportion 25, which has a depending annular skirt 26 that carries anannular gasket 21 therewithin. When the cap is forced downwardly ontothe reduced portion 23, the frictional contact of the gasket with thereduced portion of the container will aid in maintaining the cap inposition and will seal the cap on the container.

In order to center the containers transversely of the conveyer and tomaintain them centered, I provide a pair of longitudinally extendingguide rails 28 as described in said co-pending application.

After the containers are positioned on the conveyer, they are firstcarried to the cap feeding and applying unit 3. This cap feeding andapplying unit is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The capfeeding and applying unit comprises a cap receiving magazine forreceiving a stack of nested caps which is formed by four upstandingposts 32 supported on a horizontally disposed cap. feeding device 33.This device 33 is carried by a vertically disposed slide v34 operatingin a vertically disposed guide member 35. The guide member 35 is carriedby a horizontal support 36 at one side of the conveyer. A verticallydisposed screw member 31 is supported by the member 35 and is threadedthrough the slide 34. By operating hand wheel 38 keyed on the upper endof screw member 31, the slide 34 may be raised or lowered so that thedevice 33 can be adjusted to different heights depending upon the heightof the containers to be operated upon by the machine. The slide 34 alsocarries a bolt 35a which extends into a vertical slot formed in member35. I'his bolt may be tightened to hold member 34 in any adjustedposition. The vertical supporting member 35 is bolted to the horizontalsupport 36 by means of bolts 39 which extend into slots formed in themember 36 and which are disposed transversely of the conveyer. Thispermits the member 35 to be adjusted laterally relative to the conveyer.Thus, the device 33 may be adjusted both vertically and laterallyrelative to the conveyer to properly position it relative to thecontainers on the conveyer.

The construction of the device 33 may best be seen from an observationof Figure 2. It consists of a member 46 which has an annular socket 4|that receives and retains an annular collar 42. The collar 42 forms thelower part of the cap magazine and is retained in position by means of'bolts 43. The collar member 42 may be removed and replaced with adifferent member having a central opening 4401: a different sizedepending upon the size'of the caps to be applied-to the containers. Theupper end of the opening orcentral socket 44 is flared, as indicated at45, to facilitate dropping of the caps thereinto. The posts 32 arecarried by the collar member 42. These posts and collar form thecapmagazine. The member carries a longitudinally reciprocable slide 46which is disposed in a suitable guide formed therein.

The slide 46 is illustrated best in Figures 2 to '7, inclusive. Thisslide includes a number of superimposed plates having openingstherethrough and through which the caps will drop from the magazine.These plates can be removed and replaced with plates having openings ofa different size to permit caps of a different size to passtherethrough. Thus, the slide is provided with a top plate 41 having anopening therein through which the caps in the magazine will drop. Withinthe slide in the position indicated in Figure -2, the lowermost cap ofthe magazine will rest on inwardly projecting cap separator 48 which isdisposed directly below the plate 4?. This separator 48 has a sharpforward edge 49 (Figure '7). Spaced a distance slightly greater than thedistance of the cap below the separator 48 is a plate 56. This plate hasan opening 5| through which the caps will drop after being removed iromthe separator 48 in the manner to be described. Spaced a similardistance below the plate 50 is a shelf 52 which terminates at the point53 spaced from one edge of the opening 5| in plate 50. Extending fromthe lower side of the slide is the bottom member 54 of the cap chutewhich may be supported in a suitable manner (not shown) from stationarymember 46. This member extends downwardly and then horizontally. It isprovided with a narrow tongue 55 at its forward edge. A pivoted gate 56hangs freely adjacent the forwardedge of the tongue 55. This gate hasits upper end pivoted at 51 to vertically disposedside plates '58 whichform the sides of the cap chute. These side plates 58 are attached tohorizontal members 59 (Figure 4) which are bolted to the member 40. Themember 42 (Figure 2) carries the pin 66 which extends downwardly almostinto contact with the plate 56. The member 42 also carries a similar pin6| at a point on the opposite side of the opening 44. This pin projectsdownwardly through aligning slots formed in the plates 47, 50 and 52.

In the operation of this mechanism, the slide 46 is adapted to bereciprocated intermittently. The caps in the magazine are superimposedand the lowermost cap will rest on the separator 48 when the slide is inthe position illustrated in Figure 2. As soon as the slide 46 iswithdrawn to the right (Figure 2), the cap resting on the separator 48will contact with the pin BI and the separator 48 will be withdrawn frombeneath the cap allowing it to drop on the forward portion of the plate56. When the slide is moved back into its initial position,the-separator 48 engages the next cap. The sharp edge 49 separates thestack from the cap to be dropped. At the same time, the cap which restson the plate-5B will engage the pin 60 and will drop through the opening5| onto the member 52. The next outward movement of the slide will causethe cap resting on member 52, in the manner illustrated in Figure 2, toengage pin BI and the member 52 will be withdrawn from beneath the cap.This will cause the cap to drop down onto the member 54. It will slidedown member 54 and will hang over the forward end of the tongue 55 butwill be retained on the member 54 by the gate 56, as indicated in Figure2. In the meantime, during the reciprocation of the slide, another capwill .be moving into the position previously occupied by thefirst-mentioned cap. The container carried by the moving conveyer willengage the skirt'of the cap causing it to be withdrawn from the chuteand swinging the gate 56 about its pivot. Each time the slide isreciprocated a cap will be .withdrawn from the magazine and the cap willbe deposited in the cap chute, as shown in Figure 3.

I provide means for automatically reciprocating the slide 46; This meanscomprises-the lever 62 which is keyedat its upper end to a horizontallydisposed shaft 63 rotatably mounted in a bearing or sleeve 64 supportedby the member 35. The lower end of this lever 62 is pivotally connectedto a link 65 which is pivoted to the outer end of the slide 46. Thesecond lever 66 is pivoted to the opposite end of the shaft 63. Thislever is also pivoted at 6'1 to a member 63a which is adjustablythreaded on the upper end on a rod 68. The

lower end of this rod is pivotally connected to the core 69 of asolenoid 16. The solenoid I0 is supported on a horizontal support 36which carries member 35. The solenoid is such that each time it isenergized, the slide 46 will be withdrawn and then returned to itsoriginal position.

The solenoid is energized each time the container engages a cap andwithdraws it from the chute which causes the gate 56 to be swung aboutits pivot. To accomplish this, the gate '56 carries a mercury switch ll(Figures 2 and 4) which is connected by wires 72 to the solenoid. Thisswitch is so arranged that when the gate 56 is swung outwardly andupwardly by withdrawing the cap from the chute, the switch makes contactand'energizes the solenoid. When the solenoid is energized, the rod 68is pulled downwardly, swinging lever 66 downwardly, rotating shaft 63,swinging lever 62' outwardly'and'drawing the slide 46 outwardly. Whenthe-gate-56 drops back to itsoriginal position,'the switch ll breaks thecircuit; and the solenoid is deenergized. A spring 6911 may be providedin the solenoid for forcing thecore 69 upwardly to cause the slide 46 tobe returned to its original position. The effective length of the rod 68is adjustable by adjusting member 61a therealong to permit verticaladjustment of member 34 on member 35.

After the containers pass the unit 3, where the caps are loosely appliedthereto, they pass through the sealing unit 4. This unit is adapted toseal the caps on the containers and'to vacuumize and sterilize the headspace and sterilize the cap for the sealing operation. This particularsealing unit has been described in the parent application, Serial No.266,914. However, it will be understood that this cap delivery apparatusmay be used with various types of sealing units.

It will be apparent from the above description that my cap-feedingapparatus is simple but effective. The apparatus will be automaticallyactuated by movement of a container into association therewith. A capwill be fed into position to be withdrawn by a container but there is nodanger of its falling from the cap-feeding apparatus until it isactually engaged by a container. A second cap will not be fed intoposition to be engaged by a container until the cap previously occupyingsuch position has been removed.

Various other advantages will be readily apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a machine of the type described, a conveyer for supportingcontainers, means for applying caps to said containers as they are movedalong by said conveyer, said means comprising a cap chute disposed abovetheconveyer, said chute having a gate at its outlet end which permitsthe outermost cap to emerge sufliciently from the chute to be engaged bya container on the conveyer and to be withdrawn therefrom, said gatebeing moved by withdrawal of the cap from the chute, a magazine forholding a supply of caps and feeding them into the chute, a reciprocablemember for controlling the feed of caps from the magazine, a solenoidfor controlling said mem ber, said solenoid being energized anddeenergized by movement of said gate.

2. In a machine of the type described, a conveyer for supporting thecontainers, means for applying caps to said containers as they are movedalong by said conveyer, said means com prising a cap magazine, a movablemember for feeding the caps from said magazine, electrically operatedmeans for moving said member, and means adapted to be engaged by a capbeing applied to, a container moved into association with saidcap-applying means for energizing and deenergizing said electricallyoperated means.

3. In a machine of the type described, a conveyer for supporting thecontainers, means for applying caps to said containers as they are movedalong by said conveyer, said means comprising a cap magazine, a movablemember for feeding the caps from said magazine, electrically operatedmeans for moving said member, and means adapted to be engaged by a capbeing applied to a container on said conveyer for energizing anddeenergizing said electrically operated means.

4. In a machine of the type described, a capapplying unit, a containersupport associated with said cap-applying unit, said cap-applying unitincluding a cap magazine, a movable member for feeding the caps fromsaid magazine, electrically operated means for moving said member, acontrol member for controlling energizing and deenergizing of saidelectrically operated means, said control member being adapted to beengaged by a cap being applied to a container positioned on said supportin association with said capapplying unit.

5. In a machine of the type described, a' conveyor for supportingcontainers, means for applying caps to said containers as they are movedalong by said conveyer, said means comprising a cap chute disposed abovethe conveyer, said chute having a gate at its outlet end which permitsthe outermost cap to emerge suiliciently from the chute to be engaged bya container on the conveyer and to be withdrawn therefrom, said gatebeing moved by withdrawal of the caps from the chute, a magazine forholding a supply of caps and feeding them into the chute, a movablemember for controlling the feed of caps from the magazine, a solenoidfor controlling said member, and a switch actuated by said gate forenergizing and deenergizing said solenoid.

6. In a machine of the type described, a conveyer for supportingcontainers, means for applying caps to said containers as they are movedalong by said conveyer, said means comprising a cap chute disposed abovethe conveyer, said chute having a gate at its outlet end which permitsthe outermost cap to emerge suificiently from the chute to be engaged bya container on the conveyer and to be withdrawn therefrom, said gatebeing moved by withdrawal of the cap from the chute, a magazine forholding a supply of caps and feeding them into the chute, a movablemember for controlling the feed of caps from the magazine, and means forcontrolling movement of said movable member in response to movement ofsaid gate.

'7. In a machine of the type described, a conveyer for supportingcontainers, 8. cap-applying unit for applying caps to said containers asthey are moved along by said conveyer, said unit having a gate at itsoutlet end and which permits the outermost cap to emerge sufiicientlyfrom said unit to be engaged by a container on the conveyer and to bewithdrawn therefrom, said gate being moved by withdrawal of the capsfrom said unit, said unit including the magazine for holding a supply ofcaps, a movable member for controlling the feed of caps from themagazine, and means for controlling movement of said movable member inresponse to movement of said gate.

8. In a machine of the type described, a conveyer for supportingcontainers, means for applying caps to said containers as they are movedalong by said conveyer, said means comprising a cap chute disposed abovethe conveyer for supporting a cap in position to be engaged by acontainer moved along by the conveyer, a magazine for holding a supplyof caps and feeding them into the chute, a movable member for feedingthe caps from the magazine, and a control member associated with saidchute for controlling movement of said movable member, said controlmember being engaged by the cap as it is withdrawn from the chute bysaid container.

9. In a machine of the type described, a conveyer for supportingcontainers, means for applying caps to said containers as they are movedalong by said conveyer, said means comprising a cap chute disposed abovethe conveyer for supporting .a cap in :position to be engaged .by acontainer moved along by the conveyer, a magazine for holding a supplyof caps and feeding them into the chute, a movable memberrfor feedingthe caps from the magazine, .a solenoid for 0perat-ingsaid member, and acontrol member associated with said chute for energizing anddeenergizing said solenoid, said control member being engaged by a capwithdrawn from the chute by said container,

10. In a machine of the type described, a conveyer for supportingcontainers, means for applying caps to said containers as they are movedalong by said conveyer, said means comprising

